While reading Chapter 1 and 2 of Theories of Human Communication, I noticed that this text was more difficult to read than other texts that I have read in the past. However, once I got more in-depth into Chapter 1, I realized how different people including Theodore Clevenger, Frank Dance, Robert Craig and myself all had a way of defining communication. It all goes to show that communication has been studied and will continue to be a study in order to be more efficient when it comes to communicating. After understanding how communication is developed as a discipline, I then went into focusing on the theme of the text, which was theories. Theories are seen to consist of four dimensions which include philosophical assumptions, explanations, principles, and concepts. Within those concepts are more diverse types and specific values of each dimension.
Once I understood each of the dimensions of theories and was able to understand that no single theory will ever reveal the whole truth, Chapter 2 then allowed me to see some of the larger frameworks or patterns by which theories have been organized. Overall, Chapter 2 explained Gibson Burrell and Gareth Morgan's paradigms, John Prowers's tiers, Robert Craig's traditions, and Stanley Deetz's discourses. After reading each of these gentlemen's outlook on the framework of theories, it was easy to see how theories are different. For instance, Burrell and Morgan focused on the nature of social science and showed clear distinctions between assumptions and approaches. While, Power's help us, the class, understand the nature of the message and communicator, and the levels of contexts and communication.
All in all, I am excited to actually get into theories that stands out and catches my attention. However, until then it's all about learning the basics and the back end of theories.
References: Littlejohn, S. W., Foss, K. A., & Oetzel, J. G. (2017). Theories of Human Communication.
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